A Minister brought several things to the altar during service: an apple, an orange, a ball,
a coin, and a hula hoop. Then she asked the congregation “How are these things all the same?”
“They are all round” said one. “That’s true” said the Minister. “Now how are they all the same
and yet also a symbol of God?” Well, that had them stumped for a few minutes, then one perceptive
person said “I know, they are all circles and the circle, being without end, represents God.”
“Very good” said the Minister as the crowd murmured to themselves. “I have given you a puzzle to
teach you a small lesson, but God has given you a puzzle to teach you a great lesson” the Minister
said. Then the Minister went out among the congregation and asked each person she touched to go
stand before the altar. First an elderly lady went to the altar, then a young boy. A black man,
a short woman, a tall man, a big boy, and a young woman in a wheelchair soon followed. The
Minister went back to her podium and looked over the persons assembled before the altar for a
long moment. Then she turned to the congregation and asked “How are these all the same and in
the image of God?” There was much murmuring and talking among the people. “They are all children
of God” said one uncertainly. “Of course that is true” said the Minister, “but that’s not quite
it.” Finally, one offered “they all have a soul?” “Yes!” said the Minister. “To paraphrase a
popular movie character” she said. “Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter!” And then
she explained “It is our souls, not our bodies that are made in God’s image. Hence we are all
equal in his eyes.”

Lesson: “Luminous beings are we” indeed. Our spirits, not our bodies, are made
in the image of God. This simple concept has profound implications for how we treat one another
based on gender, age, race, ability, etc. If we were to truly embrace this fact, there would be
much less hate in the world today.